the big news is that we are just about surely planning to close down our Vihara and move out to Dharma Creek Sangha Camp after the Vassa.  (www.dharmacreek.com)
 
i have been thinking of the possibility to invite other bhikkhuni venerables to come and take over this Vihara if they like, but i don't know that there is anyone able to do it.  we will see. 
it may be that this, the 4th Vassa here, will be the last. 
 
Bhante Gunaratana and Ajahn Pasanno will be coming out to look at the land next week, 420 acres of fairyring redwood forest, meadows, 2 mountains and the creek flowing into the ocean. 
40 acres belongs to the land steward, Jill Rayna, privately.  I think she is planning on deeding 25 acres specifically for our Bhikkhuni Sangha hermitage. 
the other 350 acres will become a conservation land trust that we may become the stewards of in later years if all goes well. 
the land is backed up on one side with the Pacific Ocean, on another with 5000 acres that have just been given to public conservation trust for natural preservation.
we could walk to Jenner by the Sea.  so, we will see what Bhante G and Ajahn Pasanno think, as they have such tremendous experience with both Asian forest monasteries
and especially with those in North America.  we couldn't have better advice, and the group of women who have gathered to contribute and help with this is already tremendous.
 
some of the photos from our recent bhikkhuni sangha wilderness camp and the novice ordination of Anagarika Carol (now Samaneri Sister Suvijjana) have been posted on flickr here:

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/25760881@N08/show/

enjoy.

In 1994 the Venerable monk  Talalle Dhamaloka and his great friend and colleague who knew each other for over half a century, first discussed the feasibility of reestablishing the Bhikkuni order which disappeared in Sri Lanka nearly 10 centuries ago. He made investigations in China regarding the prevalence of the unbroken lineage of the Bhikkuni order. They discovered that according to Chinese history, the order came from Sri Lanka in the 6th century A.D. and since has spread to Korea, Japan, Taiwan and other countries. In fact all the Bhikkhunis in the world today are descendants of the Sri Lanka Bhikkhunis.

Having ascertained these facts, the Venerable Vipulasara Thero sent me to Korea to study the Bhikkuni Vinaya procedure. I stayed 3 months at the Bhikkhuni Temple in Seoul, Korea and translated the Vinaya ordination procedure into Sinhala. It was found that the dual ordination ceremony was similar to the practice in Sri Lanka and their Dharmagupta Vinaya is a branch of Theravada Vinaya, and the rules were identical. Actually they had more minor rules in addition.

Due to the effort and conviction of these monks the first ordination of 10 Sri Lankan nuns took place in Sarnath, India in 1996 in the presence of a large number of Sri Lankan monks. (by the Korean Maha Sangha).

[it was] The Venerable Talalle Dhammaloka Maha Thera who fully understood the need for the fourfold society constituting of Bhikkhu, Bhikkuni, Upasaka, Upasika, for the proper establishment of the Sasana, as was the wish of the Buddha, gave his fullest support. But a great controversy arose in Sri Lanka over the press for and against the re-establishment of the Bhikkhuni order. It was at this point that our Most Venerable monk stepped in, to argue over the press, according the Vinaya, how anyone could disagree. He challenged to show cause as to how the Bhikkuni Sangha cannot be recognised. According to his private diary there is mention that “Up to now I have not received any valid answer to support their dissension.”